LEXINGTON, K.Y. – Junior outside hitter Sarah Byrne and freshman counterpart Maggie Kowalska each added yet another postseason honor following equally impressive 2009 campaigns, earning American Volleyball Coaches Association honorable mention All-America accolades, as announced by the AVCA earlier this week. Under eight-year head coach J.J. O’Connell, the Stevens Institute of Technology women’s volleyball program has now produced 10 AVCA All-America honorees over the past four seasons.

LEXINGTON, KY. – Stevens Institute of Technology women’s volleyball junior Sarah Byrne and freshman Maggie Kowalska were recently named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-New York Region team after helping Stevens to a 26-10 overall record and its sixth-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. The duo spearheaded a dynamic Stevens offense that finished the regular season ranked first in the Empire 8 in kills (12.01) and assists (11.11) and second in hitting percentage.

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Stevens Institute of Technology women’s volleyball team fell to Christopher Newport University, 3-2 (25-15, 20-25, 22-25, 25-20, 15-13) in the opening round of the NCAA New York Regional hosted by New York University in New York, N.Y. The Ducks finish the season, 26-10 overall, while the Captains improved to 34-6.

HOBOKEN, N.J. – The Stevens Institute of Technology women’s volleyball team is primed to make its sixth-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance after capturing its third-straight Empire 8 Championship. Stevens, which will make its sixth-straight appearance at the New York Regional, squares off with the USA South Conference’s Christopher Newport University (33-6, 18-0 USA South) at 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 12 in the tournament’s opening round.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Stevens Institute of Technology head women’s volleyball coach J.J. O’Connell was named the 2009 Empire 8 Volleyball Coach of the Year for the third-consecutive season, according to a vote taken by the league’s nine head coaches. Also receiving honors were junior outside hitter Sarah Byrne, who earned her third Player of the Week award of the season, and freshman counterpart Maggie Kowalska, who was named the league’s Rookie of the Week for the sixth time this year.